WHILE the conflict between MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) and Panay Electric Co. (PECO) is not settled after PECO’s franchise expired on Jan. 19, 2019, it is good that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) intervened by extending the latter’s authority to operate.
PECO was issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) which is a working permit or operating license required of power distributors because MORE still has no power distribution system of its own. This is to insure uninterrupted supply of electricity for Iloilo City under ERC’s Order dated May 21, 2019.
We still believe that this unsettled status of power supply for Iloilo and the protracted conflict between the two suppliers would not have happened had Congress properly handled and disposed of PECO’s franchise renewal bill first before entertaining another power franchise application.
But PECO is not inclined to give up the legal battle to renew its power franchise, claiming that the process by which it was deprived of it was “unconstitutional”. Well, to comment on the merits of the cases filed by the contending parties on this dispute will be sub judice. Let us just pray that we will enjoy continued power supply amidst the conflict.
ILOILO PORT UPGRADE
There is a report from Francis Gentoral, executive director of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILED), that the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), a port operating company owned by Enrique Razon, offered to invest in the Port of Iloilo. It proposed a budget of P8.7 billion to improve the Iloilo Port Commercial Complex at Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City.
The project will upgrade the port to world-class level by maximizing its capability to host big vessels; installing ship-to-shore gantry cranes; and continuously upgrading yard capacity aligned to traffic studies.
It will also build a terminal for cruise ship passengers and meet the objectives of our National Tourism Development Plan.
The proposal is now with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Board for review. It will undergo the process and if approved groundwork may start early next year.
GOVERNOR’S CRITICS
With the outstanding performance and recognitions/awards that the Province of Iloilo received during his term as governor and no corruption charges ever filed against him in his long career in public service, we believe Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. should just disregard all those criticisms against him during the recent mid-term elections when he was not even a candidate. It is just part of politics during the campaign.
Maybe Arthur Defensor Jr., the candidate and now governor-elect of Iloilo, even benefited from them probably because of sympathy votes he earned for the criticisms unfairly directed against his father. Proof of this is that many people you will ask did not expect Arthur Jr. to have a big margin over his opponent, but he disproved the early surveys.
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GEM OF THOUGHT
“No day in which you learn something is a complete loss.” – David Eddings (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)PN
